Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot

McPuffster · 05-19-2007, 02:52 AM

I'm running Ubuntu 7.04. When it still was "fresh", everything was fine, but after messing around with the xorg.conf-file in order to among other things adjust the mouse, tablet and graphics driver, gdm now does not start at boot. In stead I'm faced with a command prompt, and is forced to start gdm manually. That means that each time I boot I have to enter password three times (prompt login, sudo gdm, entering X). This is starting to become bothersome.

Does anyone have any idea why X won't start automatically, and how I fix it? I tried just autoconfigure the xorg.conf, but then X wouldn't start at all, so I had to revert to the backup.

Since X does work, this shouldn't be so hard to fix. That's how it feels to me anyway.

bkubes · 05-19-2007, 08:21 AM

Maybe it's not starting at the correct run level anymore?

First get sysv-rc-conf
sudo apt-get install sysv-rc-conf
and after it's installed run
sudo sysv-rc-conf

See if your gdm line doesn't match up with mine

McPuffster · 05-20-2007, 05:59 AM

My gdm-line does match, I'm afraid.

**TheMatt** · 05-20-2007, 10:51 AM

Try this:

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Go through the prompts to reconfigure your X.org configure file.

McPuffster · 05-20-2007, 11:20 AM

I've tried that already, with poor results. Could be my fault, though.
I selected "nvidia" as driver and made sure 1280x1024 resolution was checked. After that, gdm refused to start at all. I couldn't even start it manually, it just went bonkers. So I went back to the back-up.

EDIT: Ok, I tried it again. gdm works, but I'm back to where I was. It won't start at boot, only manually.

bkubes · 05-20-2007, 02:22 PM

While I feel it's more of a hack than the real solution,
I disabled gdm from every runlevel with sysv-rc-conf just to make sure gdm wouldn't start.
Then I added
gdm &
to the end of /etc/rc.local, rebooted and it worked just fine.

Anyone know of any downsides to this method?

McPuffster · 05-22-2007, 01:19 PM

After messing around (as mentioned) with xorg.conf, gdm stopped working. During that time I installed xdm to have a graphical interface while looking for a solution. I fixed gdm so it worked, but it wouldn't start at boot. That's how it happened.

Could uninstalling xdm somehow fix this? HOW do I uninstall it?

bkubes · 05-22-2007, 02:03 PM

Did adding gdm & to the end of /etc/rc.local have no effect?

to uninstall xdm I think it would be
sudo apt-get remove xdm

McPuffster · 05-24-2007, 02:53 PM

Addin "gdm &" in /etc/rc.local just before "exit 0" does indeed start gdm at boot. Thank you!

I haven't disabled gdm from the run levels though, would you recommend I do that?

Also, as you previously asked, are there any downsides to this "hack"? Doesn't my current configuration cause gdm to boot regardless of run level for instance? Is there a more "correct" way of fixing this?

It will do for now, but as you say, we didn't fix it, just bypassed the problem.

bkubes · 05-24-2007, 04:48 PM

When booting regularly; it uses the script /etc/init.d/gdm and links it to the different runlevels.
Looking through the script the first thing I noticed was that if gdm isn't your default display manager it fails to load.

does the file
/etc/X11/default-display-manager
contain /usr/sbin/gdm ?

McPuffster · 05-24-2007, 05:06 PM

Yes, it does.

05-19-2007, 02:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
McPuffster Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 24 OS: Linux: Ubuntu 7.04	Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot I'm running Ubuntu 7.04. When it still was "fresh", everything was fine, but after messing around with the xorg.conf-file in order to among other things adjust the mouse, tablet and graphics driver, gdm now does not start at boot. In stead I'm faced with a command prompt, and is forced to start gdm manually. That means that each time I boot I have to enter password three times (prompt login, sudo gdm, entering X). This is starting to become bothersome. Does anyone have any idea why X won't start automatically, and how I fix it? I tried just autoconfigure the xorg.conf, but then X wouldn't start at all, so I had to revert to the backup. Since X does work, this shouldn't be so hard to fix. That's how it feels to me anyway.

05-20-2007, 05:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
McPuffster Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 24 OS: Linux: Ubuntu 7.04	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot My gdm-line does match, I'm afraid.

05-20-2007, 10:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot Try this: Code: sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg Go through the prompts to reconfigure your X.org configure file. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

05-20-2007, 11:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
McPuffster Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 24 OS: Linux: Ubuntu 7.04	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot I've tried that already, with poor results. Could be my fault, though. I selected "nvidia" as driver and made sure 1280x1024 resolution was checked. After that, gdm refused to start at all. I couldn't even start it manually, it just went bonkers. So I went back to the back-up. EDIT: Ok, I tried it again. gdm works, but I'm back to where I was. It won't start at boot, only manually. Last edited by McPuffster; 05-20-2007 at 11:38 AM.

05-20-2007, 02:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
bkubes Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 62 OS: Windows XP,Linux	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot While I feel it's more of a hack than the real solution, I disabled gdm from every runlevel with sysv-rc-conf just to make sure gdm wouldn't start. Then I added gdm & to the end of /etc/rc.local, rebooted and it worked just fine. Anyone know of any downsides to this method?

05-22-2007, 01:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
McPuffster Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 24 OS: Linux: Ubuntu 7.04	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot After messing around (as mentioned) with xorg.conf, gdm stopped working. During that time I installed xdm to have a graphical interface while looking for a solution. I fixed gdm so it worked, but it wouldn't start at boot. That's how it happened. Could uninstalling xdm somehow fix this? HOW do I uninstall it?

05-22-2007, 02:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
bkubes Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 62 OS: Windows XP,Linux	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot Did adding gdm & to the end of /etc/rc.local have no effect? to uninstall xdm I think it would be sudo apt-get remove xdm

05-24-2007, 02:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
McPuffster Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 24 OS: Linux: Ubuntu 7.04	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot Addin "gdm &" in /etc/rc.local just before "exit 0" does indeed start gdm at boot. Thank you! I haven't disabled gdm from the run levels though, would you recommend I do that? Also, as you previously asked, are there any downsides to this "hack"? Doesn't my current configuration cause gdm to boot regardless of run level for instance? Is there a more "correct" way of fixing this? It will do for now, but as you say, we didn't fix it, just bypassed the problem.

05-24-2007, 04:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
bkubes Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 62 OS: Windows XP,Linux	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot When booting regularly; it uses the script /etc/init.d/gdm and links it to the different runlevels. Looking through the script the first thing I noticed was that if gdm isn't your default display manager it fails to load. does the file /etc/X11/default-display-manager contain /usr/sbin/gdm ? Last edited by bkubes; 05-24-2007 at 04:53 PM.

05-24-2007, 05:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
McPuffster Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 24 OS: Linux: Ubuntu 7.04	Re: Ubuntu: gdm does not start at boot Yes, it does.